Billings, MT — Localized areas of dense and freezing fog are affecting parts of the plains across eastern Montana this morning, creating the potential for slick roads and reduced visibility. The National Weather Service in Billings reports that the greatest impacts are expected in low-lying areas and locations near rivers, where moisture can settle more easily during the early-morning hours.
As temperatures hover around or below freezing, fog droplets may freeze on contact with road surfaces, bridges, and elevated structures. This process, known as freezing fog, can create a thin and often invisible layer of ice—sometimes referred to as “black ice”—which can catch drivers off guard. Even a light glaze can significantly reduce traction, making braking and turning more hazardous.
Visibility in pockets of dense fog may rapidly drop to a quarter mile or less. Motorists traveling through eastern valleys or along river corridors should be prepared for sudden changes in driving conditions, especially where fog and freezing temperatures overlap. The NWS urges drivers to slow down, use low-beam headlights, and avoid using cruise control to maintain maximum control on potentially slick surfaces.
While the freezing fog is expected to gradually lift later this morning as temperatures rise, travel hazards may persist until the fog dissipates completely. Bridges, overpasses, and shaded roadways will be the last locations to thaw.
Residents in rural areas should also take care with livestock, as freezing fog can create an added chill effect on exposed animals. Pedestrians should watch for icy porches, steps, and walkways.
This morning’s fog event is consistent with late-autumn patterns across Montana, where radiational cooling overnight often promotes fog formation. A shift toward drier air and increasing sunshine later today will help reduce visibility concerns, though similar fog episodes may occur again this week under the right conditions.
